Big search for six-year-old boy in Vijayawada’s sewers

Vijayawada: Police, fire and municipal officials launched a search operation in the city’s sewers for six-year-old Tatikayala Srikanth, who reportedly disapeared in an open drain near Rajarajeswaripeta on Tuesday. The reported drowning came to light only on Wednesday. Srikanth’s mother Tatikayala Lakshmi, who sells fruits on a push cart, said she found her son missing in the afternoon. She started searching in the locality and inquired with all acquaintances about Srikanth’s whereabouts but drew a blank.

She finally lodged a missing complaint with the Rajarajeswripeta police on Tuesday night. On investigation, police learnt through a friend of Srikanth that the boy had fallen into a drain on Tuesday. Ms Lakshmi alleged that the parents of the friend knew of the incident on Tuesday but did not inform the police for fear of an investigation.